Falcons NFL Draft Tracker: Every Pick, Trade, and Instant Analysis

PITTSBURGH – The most anticipated event of the 2026 NFL offseason has officially arrived. The NFL Draft in Pittsburgh is set to get underway on Thursday evening, but teams like the Atlanta Falcons will be forced to hang around until Friday before they get to their turn to add to their roster. 

Ian Cunningham will have five picks to deploy this weekend, but none in the first or fifth rounds after Terry Fontenot moved both of those selections for the right to trade up for James Pearce Jr. and Xavier Watts last spring. 

Cunningham, along with president of football Matt Ryan and head coach Kevin Stefanski, will face the new regime’s first high-profile test. The triumvirate of football minds has worked in lock step to this point in the process, but now they will be put to the test. They will look to bolster the depth and ceiling of their roster with the limited draft capital, but they could also be in the mix for more picks, and trades are certainly on the table. 

They added several new players in free agency, but wide receiver and defensive line remain their most pressing needs heading into the draft. Cunningham says he is in the ‘best player available’ camp, but he will put that theory into action this weekend. 

But what ultimately happens for the Falcons? Keep coming back here throughout the weekend to get the latest coverage and analysis for every Falcons draft pick. 

2026 Atlanta Falcons NFL Draft Tracker

Round 1 – No pick

The Falcons do not have a first-round draft pick after trading it to the Los Angeles Rams for the right to select James Pearce Jr. That selection would have been No. 13 overall. 

Round 2 – No. 48 overall

PICK -- Clemson Cornerback Avieon Terrell

The Falcons select cornerback Avieon Terrell, and he reunites with his older brother, A.J., in Atlanta. This is the first cornerback the Falcons have selected on the first two days of the draft since his brother, and he will provide some immediate depth at the position. He will get the opportunity to compete with incumbent starter Mike Hughes.

• More information on the pick -- READ MORE HERE.
• The Terrell brothers on their emotional draft night -- READ MORE HERE.

Round 3 – No. 79 overall

PICK -- Georgia Wide Receiver Zachariah Branch

The Falcons got another outstanding value selection in round three, while also satisfying a major need. Zachariah Branch offers elite speed to the slot and upside as a returner, too.

• More information on this pick -- READ MORE HERE.
• Branch on being drafted by the Falcons -- READ MORE HERE.

Round 4 – No. 134 overall

TRADE -- Falcons sent the No. 122 pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for No. 134 and No. 208 (6th round)

PICK -- Oklahoma Linebacker Kendal Daniels

The Falcons picked a physically imposing athlete from the Sooners. Kendal Daniels was a one-year starter for Oklahoma, moving from safety to linebacker in 2024 and then playing a hybrid linebacker-safety-rusher role in 2025. Daniels is long and athletic — resembling Divine Deablo.

• More information on this pick -- READ MORE HERE.

Round 5 – No pick

The Falcons do not have a first-round draft pick after trading it to the Philadelphia Eagles for the right to select Xavier Watts. That selection would have been No. 153 overall, and it is held by the Green Bay Packers. 

Round 6 – No. 208 (via Las Vegas Raiders) & No. 215 overall (via Philadelphia Eagles)

PICK -- Washington Defensive Tackle Anterio Thompson

Thompson bounced around the college ranks, playing for four different schools. He made stops at Iowa Western Community College (2021-22), Iowa (2023), Western Michigan (2024), and Washington (2025). His production doesn't jump off the page, but his raw traits do.

• More information on this pick -- READ MORE HERE.

PICK -- LSU linebaker/edge rusher Harold Perkins

Perkins burst onto the scene as a freshman, finishing with 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 13 tackles for loss, and an interception. He carried that success into his sophomore season, but a torn ACL derailed his college career in 2024. As an athlete, he an outstanding upside play for the Falcons. He is twitchy and can do a lot of different things for Jeff Ulbrich's defense.

• More information on this pick -- MORE INFORMATION HERE.

Round 7 – No. 231 overall

PICK -- Ohio State Offensive Tackle Ethan Onianwa

Ethan Onianwa is a gamble on traits. At 6-foot-6, 333 pounds, the tackle has some outstanding upside. He transferred to Ohio State after spending four years with Rice (34 starts at both left and right tackle), but lost the job in the spring and spent the season as a backup guard. His size and raw skills are enough to be an interesting camp body or practice squad addition.

• More information on this pick -- to follow.

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